Knot Over (Omega Den #3)

3. Hux

Chapter 3

Hux

I pace back and forth in my living room as Candi sits on the couch, half-heartedly watching a news broadcast. The light from the screen flickers across the room, casting long shadows that only seem to heighten my unease. Creed and Vaughn are still asleep, but I tossed and turned all night and couldn’t take it anymore. I’ve gotten used to Kay sleeping beside me, her warmth anchoring me through the night. Now, without her, it feels like a piece of me is missing, and the bed feels too damn big.

I’m caught between the instinctual need to track her down and bring her back where she belongs, and the logical part of me that understands she needs space. She’s hurt because I didn’t tell her everything about what happened to me and Rebecca in that basement, and the full extent of Michelle’s twisted plans. I know Michelle wants Kay dead and Candice in her place, but since the estate raid, she hasn’t made a move to achieve that.

I thought we were safe.

I’m struggling with the guilt that I failed Rebecca, that I couldn’t protect my kitten's best friend, and that I’m failing to protect my sister and my pack. My mind reels with the weight of it all, Michelle’s dark confession in that basement, her intention to break Adam’s bond and force Candice into a fate she doesn’t want. It's all too much. I thought the Hounds' betrayal and their theft of all those omegas had ruined Michelle’s plans.

Yes, I should have shared the truth with my pack, but I thought I was protecting them. I tug at my beard in frustration, my thoughts a tangled mess. I was so consumed with guilt that I failed to see the bigger picture.

I believed Stacy’s death had stopped Jordan’s plans. I thought we’d dodged a bullet when Titus shot her, convinced it had blocked Jordan’s path to the alpha position of the next generation pack. This should have meant Creed was safe from being forced into a bond he didn’t want.

But now, I’m starting to see that it was never just about Jordan or Creed or Candice. It was about gaining control over my city. The Hounds want to control all unmated omegas in Sterling, believing that using the Heat stimulant and forcing a feral alpha into a rut will give them that power.

And that feral alpha just happens to be the one who directly affects my family.

I should have told Kay what I knew. Maybe then when we found out the full extent of the Hounds plans it wouldn't have been so much of a shock.

She has every right to be furious with me.

The thought of her out there, away from the pack, away from me, makes my skin itch with the urge to hunt her down. The idea that she could slip away for good sends a cold wave of panic through me.

I’ve fought too hard to let that happen.

This gnawing anxiety is worse than anything I’ve ever felt. Not even the basement of the Sterling estate compares to this. The memory of those cold, concrete walls closing in on me, the suffocating darkness, and the relentless dread of what they’d do next is nothing compared to the hollow ache in my chest now. Back then, I knew I was fighting for my life, and that fear kept me sharp, kept me focused.

But this?

If she denied me as her alpha, I'm not sure I could bear it. Being trapped was a nightmare, but at least I knew where I stood. I knew my enemy. But this uncertainty, this not knowing where Kay is or if she’ll come back—that’s a different kind of torture. One that eats away at me from the inside, slowly unraveling every thread of control I’ve ever had.

And I can’t stand it.

"Stop that," Candi snaps, leaning over the back of the leather couch to scowl at me. "Your pacing is driving me insane, Owen." I stop mid-step and glare at my sister. But she remains unfazed and just smirks at my discomfort, irritating me further.

"I'm making you insane? Please," I scoff, pointing a finger at her. "You don't need any help in that department."

Candi rolls her eyes dramatically, looking up at the ceiling like she's searching for patience. "Stop deflecting," she demands, patting the couch cushion. "Now. Sit, spill."

"What am I, a dog?" I snap.

Candi just smiles at me sweetly and I sigh, crossing the room toward her.

"You're so damn bossy," I growl, but do as she says, flopping down next to her. "And you say I'm driving you insane," I taunt with a grin.

There’s something about my sister that brings out my inner child, and bickering with her is easier than talking about what's really bothering me.

"Please, Owen. You're the one who's pacing like a caged tiger at six a.m. It's giving me a headache," she whines, massaging her temples.

"You know I pace when I'm thinking, Candice." I pout, crossing my arms defensively.

She raises a pierced eyebrow. "Thinking, huh? That's new for you."

"Well, someone's gotta do it around here. Can't have you hogging the shared brain cell." I grin, unable to resist teasing her back.

"Shut up. We know who’s had our brain cell this whole time. Spoiler alert," she whispers. "It isn't you."

"Well, maybe all my problems are your fault then," I counter. "Since you don't know how to share."

She snorts, tossing a pillow in my direction. I catch it and tuck it under my arm.

Candi shakes her head. "Nah, if that were true you'd be a lot more interesting."

I roll my eyes, but there's a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. "Right, because my life is just so dull."

She nudges my shoulder playfully. "You know what I mean, Owen. You're the responsible one, the steady rock we all lean on."

"Yeah, and you're the wild card," I retort, teasingly.

Candi grins. "Someone's gotta keep things interesting."

I glance at her, the warmth of our banter easing some of the tension coiled in my chest. It reminds me why I love having my sister around.

"I missed you," I admit, my tone getting more serious.

Candi's expression softens, her eyes meeting mine. "I missed you too, big bro."

I give her a half-smile, feeling a lump form in my throat. "You know, for a pain in the ass, you're not so bad."

She nudges me again, a playful glint in her eyes. "Now stop deflecting and tell me what's got you running laps this morning."

I gaze at my closed bedroom door. "You want to know what got me through these last few months?" Emotion lodges in my throat like a golf ball. "It's Kaylani…" I glance at my sister. "I promised you I'd never bond a pack. That I wouldn't leave you unprotected."

She sighs, "That was when I was fifteen, Owen. I'm twenty-two now. I don't need you to protect me anymore."

I study her, admiring the strength that’s always defined Candi. She’s tough, fierce, and independent—a force to be reckoned with. But beneath that exterior, there’s a vulnerability I know too well. It’s what’s kept me tethered to her, what made me vow to protect her at all costs. Candi is all I have left and not telling her Michelle's plans for her sooner was a gnawing guilt that ate away at my insides.

"I love her, Candice," I confess, my voice barely above a whisper. "I have since I met her here at the club."

Candi's piercing blue eyes soften with understanding. "Have you told her how you feel?" she asks gently.

I shake my head, the knot in my stomach tightening. The fear of rejection paralyzes me.

"Just be an alpha. Tell Kaylani how you feel."

"What if she rejects me?" I voice my insecurities.

"Seriously, Owen?" Candi retorts, frustration creeping into her tone. "That girl has slept in your bed waiting for you to come home for months. Alpha-up and tell her how you feel."

I sigh heavily. Maybe she's right.

"Speaking of sharing feelings," she starts, her voice shifting, "there's something I need to talk to you about too."

I meet her gaze, noting the determination etched in her expression. "What's on your mind?"

She takes a deep breath, her resolve clear. "I've been thinking about the Omega Den," she begins, her voice firm. "About reopening it."

My heart clenches at the mention of the Den. The memories flood back—Bex being omega-napped from our back alley, Vaughn being stabbed, and the time I nearly killed an alpha, leading to my arrest. The fear of putting our family at risk again gnaws at me.

"Candi," I start, my tone cautious. "I don't know if that's a good idea. It's not safe."

Her eyes flash with defiance as she gets to her feet, pacing before turning back to face me. "I know the risks," she retorts. "But you, more than anyone, understand that the Den is more than just a club. It’s a sanctuary for unmated omegas, a place where they can feel safe and supported during their heat. They deserve that, especially with everything the Sterlings and the Hounds are doing!"

She points at the muted TV, anger flaring in her voice. "You know Michelle is saying that the Hounds were keeping those omegas at her estate without her knowledge? That it's even more reason to have the Sanctuary open," she says with disgust. "A way to honor those that have been lost," she mocks Michelle's speech.

"It's bullshit. Plus, she's even naming it after Stacy. The Bramwell Sanctuary," she spits. "It's nothing more than a breeder facility, and you know it."

Her words hit hard, the frustration and determination in her eyes mirroring my own. The Den was our safe haven, a place we built together for omegas who had nowhere else to turn. But reopening it means stepping back into the line of fire, facing the dangers that nearly tore us apart once before.

Yet, deep down, I know Candi’s right. The world hasn’t changed, and those omegas still need a sanctuary. If we don’t fight for them, who will?

I run a hand through my hair, torn between my instinct to protect my family and my sister's fervent belief in the Omega Den's importance. At one point in time, I would have agreed with her. But now? With three omegas living under my roof? The stakes feel higher.

"I understand where you're coming from—" I start.

"—But?" Candi interjects, hands on her hips, already sensing the resistance in my voice.

"But we can't ignore the dangers that have happened in our club either. We can't risk it." I shake my head, feeling the weight of responsibility press down on me as I stand to face her.

Candi lifts her gaze to mine, eyes narrowing with determination. "We can't let fear dictate our decisions. We have to fight for what we believe in, for the safety and well-being of our city."

"I understand what you're saying, but you know what happened the last time the Den was open. It's not just about the omegas' safety. It's about our family's safety too." My voice softens, hoping she understands the depth of my concern.

She meets my gaze, her eyes sharp. "But we have to do something. We can't just sit back and let the Sterlings and the Hounds dictate our lives."

Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. As much as I hate to admit it, she's right. We can't let fear control us. We have to fight for what we believe in—for what the Omega Den has always stood for: hope.

Damn it.

"Alright," I relent, my voice heavy with resignation. "But you're the one with the brain cell, remember? How do you suggest we maintain the Den?"

Candi’s eyes harden with resolve. "Vaughn," she says simply.

My brows furrow in skepticism. "My beta can't be the only form of security the club has," I counter, knowing we need more than just Vaughn’s strength to keep everyone safe.

She smirks, clearly pleased with herself, like I’ve just walked right into her grand plan. " Your beta?" she teases, and I groan inwardly. She’s just maneuvered me into admitting my claim over my pack.

"Yes, my beta," I growl, irritation lacing my words as Candi chuckles triumphantly. "Shut up," I grumble, not in the mood for her playful ribbing.

"Vaughn has the Steel Serpents backing him, does he not?" she continues, crossing her arms over her chest and raising a brow in challenge.

I sigh, realizing the logic in her words. "I'll try to talk to the MC. Maybe Vaughn can arrange a meeting," I relent. "But first, let's get Kay safely home. She doesn’t need more stress right now."

A smile spreads across Candi’s face, the kind that says she’s not done with me yet. "Yep, and you need to convince your pack that all of us need to be living under the same roof."

FUCK.

My sister’s right again, and it’s a realization that hits hard. Bringing the pack together under one roof means facing not only the physical challenges but the emotional ones as well. Kaylani, Creed, Vaughn—hell, even Candi—all of them are relying on me, and now this plan to reopen the Den is only going to add to that burden.

But as much as I want to fight it, I know Candi’s right. It’s time to bring our pack together, to face the future with a united front, no matter the risks.

"Fine," I mutter, the word tasting like defeat on my tongue. "But we're doing this my way."

Candi grins, knowing she’s won this round. "Wouldn't have it any other way, big brother."

As much as her confidence irritates me, it’s also the only thing keeping me grounded right now. We’re in this together, for better or worse, and I just have to hope we’re making the right choices.